Philip Kimmelman, A.I.A. - The Kimmelman Residence, 1957

First offering: The architect's own family residence. More often than not the creative individuals behind many great commercial projects do not receive the public awareness their contributions deserve. They work modestly behind the scenes, and credit goes to the firm. So it was with Philip Kimmelman who served as Chief Project Architect for numerous Welton Becket structures, some of them LA icons, for 40 years. His Pasadena Bullocks remains a landmark among department stores, and in his own home he exercised a sure, skilled hand, deftly contrasting a wealth of disparate materials.

Great homes usually begin with a great site, and Kimmelman selected one of the best lots on a pristine stretch of upper Wonderland Park, just steps from what became the iconic Case Study 21, where the canyon widens, the land was easily graded and close to flat, and sun floods in all day. From the street, the flattish gable of the main structure and angled carport in front present a sculptural screen, hiding the lush landscape to be seen within and giving a good sense of the remaining landscape design by Garrett Eckbo that once unified the entire street. Sheltered and highly private, the home, garden & view are one: the whole canyon, now interspersed with lush plantings, seems to center here. Restored and almost perfectly original, here is an exemplar of the period worthy of careful new guardians.